Color chip dispenser

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for a color chip dispenser are provided and include a card shuffler device that receives color chips, each having a sample area displaying a color and an optical code area displaying a machine-readable optical code associated with the color. An optical code reader is configured to read optical codes and a robotic arm is configured to receive and grip color chips. A controller is configured to receive and decode the machine-readable optical code displayed in the optical code area of each of the color chips, determine whether a particular color chip corresponds to a selected coating color based on the decoded machine-readable optical code of the particular color chip, and control the robotic arm to display the particular color chip in a display area and/or dispense the particular color chip to a dispensing receptacle in response to the particular color chip corresponding to the selected coating color.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a color chip dispenser and, moreparticularly, to a color chip dispenser that utilizes an optical codereader and a robotic arm to locate and retrieve a color chip from a deckof color chips.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.

Retail stores that sell coating products, such as paints and stains,often include large display structures to store and display color chipsused as samples for the various coating product colors available forpurchase. Each color chip, for example, may show a particular coatingcolor, along with a name and/or an identification code or numberassociated with the particular coating color. A consumer looking for aparticular color chip is required to search the display looking for theparticular color chip.

In addition, consumers may browse and select particular colorselectronically using, for example, a website, a website application, amobile application, etc. For example, a color selection and coordinationsystem that allows a user to select a starting color and that providescoordinating colors for the starting color is described in U.S. Pat. No.7,230,629, “Data-driven color coordinator,” which is incorporated hereinby reference. Due to the color variance inherent to digital monitors,once particular coating colors are selected electronically, a consumermay then search for corresponding color chips with samples of theparticular coating colors. Searching for the physical color chipsassociated with particular coating colors in the display structure,however, can be tedious and time consuming for the consumer.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The present disclosure provides a color chip dispenser that includes acard shuffler device configured to receive a plurality of color chips,each color chip including a sample area displaying a color and anoptical code area displaying a machine-readable optical code associatedwith the color. The color chip dispenser also includes an optical codereader configured to read machine-readable optical codes and a roboticarm configured to receive and grip color chips. The color chip dispenseralso includes a controller in communication with the optical codereader, the card shuffler device, and the robotic arm. The controller isconfigured to control the card shuffler device and the optical codereader to read the machine-readable optical code displayed in theoptical code area of each of the color chips in the plurality of colorchips. The color chip dispenser is also configured to receive and decodethe machine-readable optical code displayed in the optical code area ofeach of the color chips in the plurality of color chips. The color chipdispenser is also configured to determine whether a particular colorchip from the plurality of color chips corresponds to a selected coatingcolor based on the decoded machine-readable optical code displayed inthe optical code area of the particular color chip. The color chipdispenser is also configured to, in response to the particular colorchip corresponding to the selected coating color, control the roboticarm to perform at least one of displaying the particular color chip in adisplay area of the color chip dispenser and dispensing the particularcolor chip to a dispensing receptacle of the color chip dispenser.

In some configurations, the display area includes a plurality of displaywindows, each display window being associated with a different type oflight source. The controller can be further configured to receive alight source selection and to control the robotic arm to display theparticular color chip in a display window from the plurality of displaywindows that corresponds to the light source selection.

In some configurations, the controller is further configured to, inresponse to none of the color chips from the plurality of color chipscorresponding to the selected coating color, generate an alertindicating that the selected coating color was not found in theplurality of color chips.

In some configurations, the color chip dispenser also includes an inputdevice and an output device in communication with the controller. Thecontroller can receive input corresponding to the selected coating colorfrom the input device.

In some configurations, the input device and the output device areincluded in a touch-screen device.

In some configurations, the controller is in communication with a colorselection and coordination system and receives the selected coatingcolor from the color selection and coordination system.

In some configurations, the machine-readable optical code associatedwith the color includes at least one of a barcode, a QR code, and analphanumeric code.

In some configurations, the card shuffler device includes a motorizedcard shuffler that sequentially moves each color chip from the pluralityof color chips in front of the optical code reader so that the opticalcode reader can read the machine-readable optical code displayed in theoptical code area of each color chip.

In some configurations, the plurality of color chips includes duplicatecolor chips, each being associated with the same coating color.

In some configurations, the controller is further configured to performan inventory of the plurality of color chips and to store inventoryinformation in a computer-readable storage medium, the inventoryinformation including identification information and amount informationfor each type of color chip in the plurality of color chips.

In another form, the present disclosures provides a method that includesreceiving, with a card shuffler device of a color chip dispenser, aplurality of color chips, each color chip including a sample areadisplaying a color and an optical code area displaying amachine-readable optical code associated with the color, the color chipdispenser having an optical code reader configured to readmachine-readable optical codes and a robotic arm configured to receiveand grip color chips. The method also includes controlling, with acontroller in communication with the optical code reader, the cardshuffler device, and the robotic arm, the card shuffler device and theoptical code reader to read the machine-readable optical code displayedin the optical code area of each of the color chips in the plurality ofcolor chips. The method also includes receiving and decoding, with thecontroller, the machine-readable optical code displayed in the opticalcode area of each of the color chips in the plurality of color chips.The method also includes determining, with the controller, whether aparticular color chip from the plurality of color chips corresponds to aselected coating color based on the decoded machine-readable opticalcode displayed in the optical code area of the particular color chip.The method also includes controlling, with the controller, the roboticarm to perform at least one of displaying the particular color chip in adisplay area of the color chip dispenser and dispensing the particularcolor chip to a dispensing receptacle of the color chip dispenser inresponse to the particular color chip corresponding to the selectedcoating color.

In some configurations, the display area includes at least one displaywindow. The method can also include receiving, with the controller, alight source selection and controlling, with the controller, the roboticarm to display the particular color chip in the at least one displaywindow illuminated by the light source selection.

In some configurations, the method also includes generating, with thecontroller, an alert indicating that the selected coating color was notfound in the plurality of color chips in response to none of the colorchips from the plurality of color chips corresponding to the selectedcoating color.

In some configurations, the color chip dispenser further comprises aninput device and an output device in communication with the controller,and the method also includes receiving, with the controller, inputcorresponding to the selected coating color from the input device.

In some configurations, the input device and the output device areincluded in a touch-screen device.

In some configurations, the controller is in communication with a colorselection and coordination system. The method can also includereceiving, with the controller, the selected coating color from thecolor selection and coordination system.

In some configurations, the machine-readable optical code associatedwith the color includes at least one of a barcode, a QR code, and analphanumeric code.

In some configurations, the card shuffler device includes a motorizedcard shuffler that sequentially moves each color chip from the pluralityof color chips in front of the optical code reader so that the opticalcode reader can read the machine-readable optical code displayed in theoptical code area of each color chip.

In some configurations, the plurality of color chips includes duplicatecolor chips, each being associated with the same coating color.

In some configurations, the method also includes performing, with thecontroller, an inventory of the plurality of color chips and storing,with the controller, inventory information in a computer-readablestorage medium, the inventory information including identificationinformation and amount information for each type of color chip in theplurality of color chips.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a color chip dispenser according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a color chip dispenser, showing selectedinternal features, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a color chip, according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for a color chip dispensing method according tothe present disclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, a color chip dispenser 10 includes acontroller 12 in communication with a computer-readable storage medium24 and a touch-screen device 14 that receives input from and displaysoutput to a user. For example, the touch-screen device 14 may receiveuser input to select a particular coating color and communicate the userinput and/or the selected coating color to the controller 12. Forfurther example, the touch-screen device 14 may receive user inputindicating a coating color by a color name and/or by a coloridentification code or number. For further example, the controller 12and touch-screen device 14 may be part of an integrated color selectionand coordination system that allows a user to browse a database ofcolors to select a starting color and that provides and displays to theuser coordinating colors for the selected starting color, as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,629, “Data-driven color coordinator,” which isincorporated herein by reference. The computer-readable storage medium24 stores computer-executable code with instructions for the controller12 to operate and perform the functionality for receiving input from anddisplaying output to a user via the touch-screen device 14 and fordisplaying and dispensing color chips, as described in the presentdisclosure. While an integrated touch-screen device 14 is described andshown in the figures, separate input devices, such as a keyboard andmouse, and separate output devices, such as a monitor screen, canalternatively be used.

With reference to FIG. 10, a color chip 16 includes a sample area 18showing the particular coating color and a name area 20 showing analphanumeric color name associated with the coating color. Optionally,the sample area 18 may include an optical code area 22 showing aparticular machine-readable optical code associated with the coatingcolor. The machine-readable optical code may be, for example, a barcode,a Quick Response (QR) code (i.e., a two-dimensional barcode), or analphanumeric code associated with and used for identifying theparticular coating color. Alternatively, the alphanumeric color nameassociated with the coating color may serve as the machine-readableoptical code. While the present disclosure provides a barcode, a QRcode, and an alphanumeric code as examples, other suitablemachine-readable optical codes may be used.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 through 10, once a particular coatingcolor is inputted or selected by the user via the touch-screen device14, the controller 12 can retrieve and dispense a color chip 16associated with the particular coating color to the user. For example,the color chip dispenser 10 includes a deck 28 of color chips 16arranged in a card shuffler device 30 and an optical code reader 32. Thecard shuffler device 30 includes a motorized card shuffler thatsequentially moves the color chips 16 in front of the optical codereader 32. The optical code reader 32 reads the machine-readable opticalcode for each color chip 16 in the deck 28 from the optical code area 22of the color chip 16 and communicates the machine-readable optical codeto the controller 12. The controller 12 decodes the received opticalcode for the color chip 16 to determine a color name and/or a coloridentification code or number associated with the particular color chip16. The controller 12 then compares the color name and/or coloridentification code or number of the particular color chip 16 with thecolor name and/or color identification code or number of the particularcoating color that was inputted or selected by the user via thetouch-screen device 14. If the color chip 16 matches the particularcoating color inputted or selected by the user, the controller 12 stopsthe card shuffler device 30 with the particular color chip 16 located ina predetermined position. For example, the predetermined position may bethe color chip location immediately in front of the optical code reader32. If the color chip 16 does not match the particular coating colorinputted or selected by the user, the controller 12 continues operationof the card shuffler device 30 to move the next color chip 16 in thedeck 28 in front of the optical code reader 32 for identification. Thecontroller 12 continues operation in this manner until the color chip 16associated with the particular coating color is found or until all ofthe color chips 16 in the deck 28 have been analyzed.

Once the color chip 16 associated with the particular coating color isfound in the deck 28, the controller 12 controls a robotic arm 34 tomove to the location of the particular color chip 16, as shown in FIGS.3 and 5. For example, the robotic arm 34 may include a motorizedtransport device to move the robotic arm linearly along a track 38. Oncethe robotic arm 34 is aligned with the location of the particular colorchip 16, the controller 12 controls the robotic arm 34 to lower a pincerdevice 36 to receive and grip the particular color chip 16, as shown inFIG. 5.

Once the particular color chip 16 is retrieved by the robotic arm 34from the deck 28, depending on input received from the user, the colorchip 16 can either be dispensed or displayed to the user. For example,with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, when the user opts to display theparticular color chip 16, the controller 12 controls the robotic arm 34to display the color chip 16 in a display area of the color chipdispenser 10. For example, the display area of the color chip dispensermay include the lighting display windows 50, shown in FIG. 9, Forexample, the color chip dispenser 10 can be configured with one or moredisplay windows 50. When multiple display windows 50 are used, differentlight sources can be used with the individual display windows 50 todisplay the color chip 16 in different types of light. As shown in FIG.9, three different light sources or light types, as indicated by thelighting labels 52, can be associated, respectively, with threedifferent display windows 50. For example, a first display window can beassociated with a soft white light emitting diode (LED) light source. Asecond display window can be associated with a bright white LED lightsource. A third display window can be associated with a daylight typeLED light source. Additionally or alternatively, other light types orlight sources can be used. For example, a display window could beincluded with a fluorescent type light source. The user may select aparticular light type or light source via the touch-screen device 14.While different light types or light sources can be associated withseparate display windows from the multiple display windows 50,alternatively, all of the multiple display windows 50 can be illuminatedby the same light source. For example, the color chip dispenser 10 maybe configured with multiple light sources such that a user can select aparticular type of light source that then illuminates all of themultiple display windows 50. Alternatively, the color chip dispenser 10can include separate input buttons or switches that can be depressed oractuated by the user to indicate a selection for a particular light typeor light source. For example, the color chip dispenser 10 can include abutton or switch associated with each of the display windows 50. Thecontroller 12 can receive the user inputted selection and can thencontrol the robotic arm 34 to position the particular color chip 16 inthe display window 50 corresponding to the user inputted selection. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 12 can control the roboticarm 34 to rotate around the track 38 and position the particular colorchip 16 within the display window 50 corresponding to the selection.After the particular color chip 16 is displayed within a display window50, the user may opt to either have the particular color chip 16dispensed to a dispensing receptacle 40 or returned to the deck 28.

With reference to FIG. 8, when the user opts to dispense the particularcolor chip 16, the controller 12 controls the robotic arm 34 to positionthe particular color chip to align with a dispensing chute 42 so thatthe particular color chip 16 is received by a dispensing receptacle 40.The user may opt to first display the particular color chip 16 in one ofthe display windows 50 and then dispense the particular color chip 16.Alternatively, the user may opt to simply have the particular color chip16 dispensed once it is located in the deck 28 without having it firstdisplayed in a display window 50.

While FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 to 8 show a robotic arm 34 configured to movelinearly and rotationally around a track 38, any suitable robotic armcan be used to retrieve a particular color chip 16 from the deck 28,position the particular color chip 16 within a display window 50, and/ordispense the particular color chip 16 to the dispensing chute 42 anddispensing receptacle 40, in accordance with the present disclosure. Forexample, an articulated robotic arm with one or more rotary joints canbe used. Additionally or alternatively, a Cartesian robotic arm with oneor more prismatic joints can be used. Additionally or alternatively, aselective compliance assembly robotic arm (SCARA) can be used.Additionally or alternatively, other suitable robotic arms or other pickand place type devices can be used to retrieve a particular color chip16 from the deck 28, position the particular color chip 16 within adisplay window 50, and/or dispense the particular color chip 16 to thedispensing chute 42 and dispensing receptacle 40, in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 11, a flow chart for a color chip dispensingmethod according to the present disclosure is shown. The method can beperformed by the controller 12. Additionally or alternatively, themethod may be performed by another controller, computer, device, ormodule. The method starts at 100.

At 102, the controller 12 receives color identification input. As notedabove, the controller 12 may receive user input via the touch-screendevice 14 indicating a coating color by a color name and/or by a coloridentification code or number. Additionally or alternatively, thecontroller 12 and touch-screen device 14 may be part of an integratedcolor selection and coordination system that allows a user to browse adatabase of colors to select a starting color and that provides anddisplays to the user coordinating colors for the selected startingcolor, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,629, “Data-driven colorcoordinator,” which is incorporated herein by reference. The user maythen use the touch-screen device 14 to select a particular coating colorusing the color selection and coordination system and the controller 12may then receive color identification input corresponding to theparticular coating color selected using the color selection andcoordination system. Further, the controller 12 may be in communicationwith a separate color selection and coordination system and may receivethe color identification input from the separate color selection andcoordination system. For example, the separate color selection andcoordination system could be implemented by or with a mobile deviceand/or a remote computing device, such as a home computer, and thecontroller 12 could receive the color identification input from themobile device and/or remote computing device.

At 104, as described above, the controller 12 controls the card shufflerdevice 30 and the optical code reader 32 to search through the colorchips 16 within the deck 28 to find a color chip 16 corresponding to thecoating color associated with the received color identification input.

At 106, the controller 12 determines whether the particular color chip16 corresponding to the coating color associated with the received coloridentification input. At 106, when the particular color chip 16 has notbeen found in the deck 28, the controller 12 proceeds to 108 andcontrols the touch-screen device 14 to display a message to the userindicating that the particular color chip 16 was not found in the deck28. Additionally, the controller 12 may generate an alert to a serviceperson or retail clerk, for example, indicating that the particularcolor chip 16 has been requested but is not available in the deck. Thecontroller 12 then loops back to 102.

At 106, when the particular color chip 16 has been found, the controller12 proceeds to 110 and receives user input indicating to either view theparticular color chip 16 or to dispense the particular color chip 16.For example, the controller 12 can control the touch-screen device 14 toprompt the user for the input indicating to either view or dispense theparticular color chip 16.

At 112, the controller 12 determines whether the received user inputindicates that the particular color chip 16 should be viewed ordispensed. When the user input indicates that the particular color chip16 should be dispensed, the controller 12 proceeds to 114 and dispensesthe particular color chip 16 to the dispensing receptacle 40, asdescribed above.

At 112, when the user input indicates that the particular color chip 16should be viewed, the controller proceeds to 116. At 116, when multipledisplay windows are used, the controller 12 receives user inputindicating a particular light type for display. The controller 12 thenproceeds to 118.

At 118, the controller 12 controls the robotic arm 34 to display theparticular color chip 16 in the display window 50 corresponding to theselected light type. The controller 12 then proceeds to 120.

At 120, after displaying the particular color chip 16, the controller 12receives user input indicating to either dispense the particular colorchip 16 or return the particular color chip 16 to the deck 28. At 122,the controller 12 determines whether the received user input indicatesthat the particular color chip 16 should be dispensed or returned.

At 122, when the user input indicates that the particular color chip 16should be dispensed, the controller 12 proceeds to 114 and controls therobotic arm 34 to dispense the particular color chip 16, and then loopsback to 102. At 122, when the user input indicates that the particularcolor chip 16 should be returned to the deck 28, the controller 12controls the robotic arm 34 to return the particular color chip 16 tothe deck 28. The controller 12 then loops back to 102.

In this way, the color chip dispenser 10, along with the methodsdescribed in the present disclosure advantageously allow a user toquickly locate, view, and receive a particular color chip without havingto spend time searching a large display of multiple color chips.

The card shuffler device 30 can be configured to be filled with colorchips 16 by a service person or retail clerk, for example, withouthaving particular color chips 16 located at specified locations. Inother words, by using the optical code reader 32 to search the entiredeck 28, the controller 12 is able to locate a particular color chip 16regardless of its location within the deck 28. Further, the deck caninclude multiple duplicates of the same color chip 16. For example, aservice person or retail clerk, for example, may include a relativelylarger number of more popular color chips 16 in the deck 28 and mayinclude a relatively smaller number of less popular color chips 16 inthe deck 28. In this way, as particular color chips 16 are dispensed andremoved from the deck 28, subsequent users are still able to view andreceive the remaining duplicate color chips 16.

The controller 12 may be further configured to perform an inventory ofall of the color chips 16 currently available in the deck 28. Forexample, upon startup or after a service person or retail clerk refillsthe deck 28, the controller 12 may control the card shuffler device 30and the optical code reader 32 to perform an inventory and determineidentification information for each type of color chip 16 in the deck 28and the amount or number of each type of color chip 16 in the deck 28.The controller 12 may store the inventory information in thecomputer-readable storage medium 24. In this way, when the controller 12receives input indicating color identification information for aparticular color chip 16, the controller 12 may be able to determine,based on the inventory whether the particular color chip 16 is currentlyin the deck 28. If, based on the inventory information, the controller12 determines that the particular color chip 16 is not currently in thedeck 28, the controller 12 can simply display a message to the user thatthe particular color chip 16 is not available. Additionally, thecontroller 12 may generate an alert to a service person or retail clerk,for example, indicating that the particular color chip 16 has beenrequested but is not available in the deck. Additionally, the controller12 could collect user input from the consumer indicating the consumer'smailing address so that the chip can be mailed to the consumer once itbecomes available. Additionally or alternatively, if the color chip isavailable in the store outside of the color chip dispenser 10, thecontroller 12 may generate output to display the location in anassociated color display where the color chip can be found by theconsumer. Once the color chip dispenser 10 is restarted and/or refilledwith additional color chips 16, the controller 12 may perform anotherinventory and update the inventory information in the computer-readablestorage medium 24.

The controller 12 may be further configured to generate and outputperiodic reports indicating the number and types of color chips 16 thathave been viewed and/or dispensed within a predetermined or selectedtime period, such as a day, a week, a month, a year, or any othersuitable time period.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

In this application, including the definitions below, the termscontroller or module may be replaced with the term circuit. The termscontroller or module may refer to, be part of, or include an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixedanalog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixedanalog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; afield programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor (shared, dedicated, orgroup) that executes code; memory (shared, dedicated, or group) thatstores code executed by a processor; other suitable hardware componentsthat provide the described functionality; or a combination of some orall of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.

The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/ormicrocode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes,and/or objects. The term shared processor encompasses a single processorthat executes some or all code from multiple modules. The term groupprocessor encompasses a processor that, in combination with additionalprocessors, executes some or all code from one or more modules. The termshared memory encompasses a single memory that stores some or all codefrom multiple modules. The term group memory encompasses a memory that,in combination with additional memories, stores some or all code fromone or more modules. The term memory may be a subset of the termcomputer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium does notencompass transitory electrical and electromagnetic signals propagatingthrough a medium, and may therefore be considered tangible andnon-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory tangiblecomputer readable medium include nonvolatile memory, volatile memory,magnetic storage, and optical storage.

The apparatuses and methods described in this application may bepartially or fully implemented by one or more computer programs executedby one or more processors. The computer programs includeprocessor-executable instructions that are stored on at least onenon-transitory tangible computer readable medium. The computer programsmay also include and/or rely on stored data.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in theart. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

What is claimed is:
 1. A color chip dispenser comprising: a cardshuffler device configured to receive a plurality of color chips, eachcolor chip including a sample area displaying a color and an opticalcode area displaying a machine-readable optical code associated with thecolor; an optical code reader configured to read machine-readableoptical codes; a robotic arm configured to receive and grip color chips;and a controller in communication with the optical code reader, the cardshuffler device, and the robotic arm, the controller being configured to(i) receive a selected coating color, (ii) search the plurality of colorchips for the selected coating color by controlling the card shufflerdevice and the optical code reader to sequentially move each of thecolor chips in the plurality of color chips in front of the optical codereader to read the machine-readable optical code displayed in theoptical code area of each of the color chips in the plurality of colorchips, by receiving and decoding the machine-readable optical codedisplayed in the optical code area of each of the color chips in theplurality of color chips, and by determining whether a particular colorchip from the plurality of color chips matches the selected coatingcolor based on the decoded machine-readable optical code displayed inthe optical code area of the particular color chip, and (iii) inresponse to the particular color chip corresponding to the selectedcoating color, control the robotic arm to perform at least one ofdisplaying the particular color chip in a display area of the color chipdispenser and dispensing the particular color chip to a dispensingreceptacle of the color chip dispenser, wherein card shuffler deviceincludes a motorized card shuffler that sequentially moves each of thecolor chips in the plurality of color chips in front of the optical codereader so that the optical code reader can read the machine-readableoptical code displayed in the optical code area of each color chip; andwherein the display area includes a plurality of display windows and aplurality of input buttons, each input button being associated with acorresponding display window and each display window being associatedwith a different type of light source, the controller being furtherconfigured to receive a light source selection indicated by actuation ofone of the input buttons and to control the robotic arm to display theparticular color chip in a display window from the plurality of displaywindows that corresponds to the light source selection indicated by theactuation of the one of the input buttons.
 2. The color chip dispenserrecited by claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, inresponse to none of the color chips from the plurality of color chipscorresponding to the selected coating color, generate an alertindicating that the selected coating color was not found in theplurality of color chips.
 3. The color chip dispenser recited by claim1, further comprising an input device and an output device incommunication with the controller, wherein the controller receives inputcorresponding to the selected coating color from the input device. 4.The color chip dispenser recited by claim 3, wherein the input deviceand the output device are included in a touch-screen device.
 5. Thecolor chip dispenser recited by claim 1, wherein the controller is incommunication with a color selection and coordination system andreceives the selected coating color from the color selection andcoordination system.
 6. The color chip dispenser recited by claim 1,wherein the machine-readable optical code associated with the colorincludes at least one of a barcode, a QR code, and an alphanumeric code.7. The color chip dispenser recited by claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcolor chips includes duplicate color chips, each being associated withthe same coating color.
 8. The color chip dispenser recited by claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to perform an inventory ofthe plurality of color chips and to store inventory information in acomputer-readable storage medium, the inventory information includingidentification information and amount information for each type of colorchip in the plurality of color chips.
 9. A method comprising: receiving,with a card shuffler device of a color chip dispenser, a plurality ofcolor chips, each color chip including a sample area displaying a colorand an optical code area displaying a machine-readable optical codeassociated with the color, the color chip dispenser having an opticalcode reader configured to read machine-readable optical codes and arobotic arm configured to receive and grip color chips, and; receiving,with a controller in communication with the optical code reader and thecard shuffler device, a selected coating color; searching, with thecontroller, the plurality of color chips for the selected coating colorby controlling the card shuffler device and the optical code reader tosequentially move each of the color chips in the plurality of colorchips in front of the optical code reader to read the machine-readableoptical code displayed in the optical code area of each of the colorchips in the plurality of color chips, by receiving and decoding themachine-readable optical code displayed in the optical code area of eachof the color chips in the plurality of color chips, and by determiningwhether a particular color chip from the plurality of color chipsmatches the selected coating color based on the decoded machine-readableoptical code displayed in the optical code area of the particular colorchip; controlling, with the controller, the robotic arm to perform atleast one of displaying the particular color chip in a display area ofthe color chip dispenser and dispensing the particular color chip to adispensing receptacle of the color chip dispenser in response to theparticular color chip corresponding to the selected coating color, thedisplay area including a plurality of display windows and a plurality ofinput buttons, each input button being associated with a correspondingdisplay window; receiving, with the controller, a light source selectionindicated by actuation of one of the input buttons; and controlling,with the controller, the robotic arm to display the particular colorchip in a display window from the plurality of display windows thatcorresponds to the light source selection indicated by the actuation ofthe one of the input buttons; wherein the card shuffler device includesa motorized card shuffler that sequentially moves each of the colorchips in the plurality of color chips in front of the optical codereader so that the optical code reader can read the machine-readableoptical code displayed in the optical code area of each color chip. 10.The method recited by claim 9, the method further comprising:generating, with the controller, an alert indicating that the selectedcoating color was not found in the plurality of color chips in responseto none of the color chips from the plurality of color chipscorresponding to the selected coating color.
 11. The method recited byclaim 9, wherein the color chip dispenser further comprises an inputdevice and an output device in communication with the controller, themethod further comprising receiving, with the controller, inputcorresponding to the selected coating color from the input device. 12.The method recited by claim 11, wherein the input device and the outputdevice are included in a touch-screen device.
 13. The method recited byclaim 9, wherein the controller is in communication with a colorselection and coordination system, the method further comprisingreceiving, with the controller, the selected coating color from thecolor selection and coordination system.
 14. The method recited by claim9, wherein the machine-readable optical code associated with the colorincludes at least one of a barcode, a QR code, and an alphanumeric code.15. The method recited by claim 9, wherein the plurality of color chipsincludes duplicate color chips, each being associated with the samecoating color.
 16. The method recited by claim 9, the method furthercomprising: performing, with the controller, an inventory of theplurality of color chips; and storing, with the controller, inventoryinformation in a computer-readable storage medium, the inventoryinformation including identification information and amount informationfor each type of color chip in the plurality of color chips.